This blog lets you keep up with the W family. Our three boys are John who is 18, a high school grad and off to college, Noah who is 15 going on 21 and loves sports and little Ben, who is the sweetest little 8 year old, who happens to have Down syndrome(unless he accidently ate some gluten, then he turns into Mr. Hyde.)

The Boys

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Ben's success with the ASL Sign Language program Signing Time has prompted me to become certified Baby Signing Time instructor, so I can share sign with others. I have created the company ABC Signing Kids and I offer classes and sell the award winning Signing Time products. I am currently taking more classes to work my way to become a Master Signing Time Instructor.
Click here to visit my brand new website.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

As I sit here at my computer, after watching via a web cam, the National Buddy Walk Video that was shown in Times Square this morning, I am amazed at how cool technology really is. That I can be in Nebraska, and still see live action in Times Square, and grab a screen print that allowed me to capture the exact moment my sweet little guy was shown on the Sony screen is blowing my mind. Granted, it is not the best picture. It is dark and grainy, and it is just a tiny rectangle underneath a giant beer bottle, but it is still so cool. I overlaid the actual photo, so you can see what it would have looked like if you were much closer. If you look closely, you can make out his outline and drum stick.

Thank you to the NDSS for putting together a video that promotes the
value, acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Thank you
for sending a link for the webcams out to all the loved ones who could not be there, so we
could feel like we are a part of the day. It is truly amazing!

Friday, September 21, 2012

After Ben's photo was chosen for the National Buddy Walk video, the NDSS sent us a press release to send to our local papers. I sent mine to Cass County Paper and the Lincoln Journal Star. The Cass county paper ran just the press release, and not the picture (even though I sent it numerous times).

However, the Lincoln Journal Star sent our one of their best writers who interviewed us on Tuesday and ran this very nice article on Thursday. It was very cool.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

It started with Ben picking up John's iPod, putting the earbud in his ear, then singing the chorus, Ice Ice Baby. It appears that a certain big brother has been letting my sweet little Ben listen to his questionable music. A lot.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Thank you to everyone who has registered or donated to Ben's Brigade for the 2012 Capital City Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk. Through your generosity, Ben earned 3 fact posters (pictured below) that will be displayed along the walk route at the Step Up Walk on October 6, 2012 in Lincoln NE. A huge thank you to Erica and Images for a Lifetime for taking such adorable photos and for making the posters for the DSAF. There will be 98 posters displayed along the walk route featuring 39 different Nebraska children with Down syndrome. They truly are inspirational. There is still time to register or donate. Anyone who registers by Saturday the 15th. will get a free t-shirt with their paid registration.
Click here to go to Ben's Team page:

Not sure where the time has gone, but the first day of school came and
went by quickly. Can't believe I have an 8th and 5th grader already. John and Noah are not happy about Ben's afternoon
preschool this year, since it means they have to get up and get on the
bus at 6:50. So far we have only had 1 incident of over sleeping, and that was yesterday.

Tried to get a photo of them getting on the bus that first day, but missed. At least I got a photo of the bus before it drove off.

Ben was ready for school too. I was impressed by how quickly he could get his backpack on all by himself.

Once he hit the front door of school, he was all business. There was no looking back or hugging Mom. He was ready to go. I am pretty sure he had a great day, filled with lots of activity.

I know because this is what he looked like 5 minutes after I picked him up from school.

Now a few weeks later, we have only had one day where he did not fall asleep after he got home from school, but usually it is just a quick cat nap. It is much easier getting him ready for school this year too. Maybe it is because he is maturing, maybe it is because we have more time, or maybe it is becasue his brothers are not around to bother him. Either way it is nice to have him excited and helpful when it is time to go to school.

This year was a particularly good year for the boys in 4-H. Both Noah and John won their divisions in the Presentation contest that was held before the fair. At the county fair Noah won Grand Champion and best Picture in the 4-H division for his photo of a rock splahing into water. The photo also got a purple ribbon at the state fair.

They were looking for kids to do interviews on the radio, and Noah got picked. He had fun and got to talk for quite a while since the was the only 4-Her in the area

Noah also got Grand Champion on his framed stock certificate and history
of the Elmwood Theatre Corporation. This entry got a blue ribbon at
the state fair.

Since we were going to the fair on Wednesday to see the bucket calf show, I asked Noah if he wanted to enter a basket in the basket contest, since the entry time was going to be during our visit. He ended up getting 1st place with a trophy and a ribbon. He thought that was pretty cool.

Our friend Kate had two goats in one class, so Noah got to help out by showing one for her. I would say a better description was that the goat showed him, since it mostly drug him around the ring. But the judge was very forgiving.

John wanted to do the cake auction this year and made a cake with Olympic rings on it. It sold for $100.

John also got a trophy for Reserved Champion Wild Flower photo. It was cool seeing both boys on stage at the same time.

Here is his reserved champion photo.

All of their hard work payed off, because we got to spend a day at the Nebraska State Fair.

John got to do his presentation while we were there. We were a bit late and they would not let him use our laptop, so the videos in his power point did not work. He still got a blue ribbon which was good considering he experienced technical difficulty.

He got a special recognition for his photo of a bald eagle on our pond. Above it is Noah's photo of the Blue Heron that also lives on the pond. Both birds happen to be sitting on the same log (but they were taken at different times)

His Child Development book about Ben's Farm got a purple too. Love the expression on his face. I don't think there was anything worse than being forced to pose for a picture, when there was the entire state fair to explore waiting right outside.

I will leave you with this. Only at the Nebraska state fair would you see something like this. They were not running when we went by, but I am sure they could get a ride on one of the ones outside the house right now if they really wanted too.

Award

ABC Signing Kids

ABC Barefoot Kids

About Me

I live in on a farm in South East Nebraska, teach sign language to young children, am a Barefoot Book Ambassador, and help out at school, church, and fund raise for the LuMind Foundation for Down Syndrome Research. In my spare time, I love to make beautiful things with yarn, beads and cameras.